Bihar woman faints during govt recruitment exam, allegedly gang-raped inside ambulance

Gaya: A woman in Bihar has alleged that she was gang-raped inside an ambulance after fainting during a government recruitment test for home guards. The incident took place on July 24 in Gaya district, police said on Saturday.

According to officials, the woman lost consciousness during the exam and was rushed to Anugrah Narain Medical College and Hospital in an ambulance. After regaining consciousness, she told police that she was sexually assaulted inside the vehicle.

Gaya SP (Town) Ramanand Kumar Kaushal said two persons, the ambulance driver and a technician, have been arrested based on the woman’s complaint and identification.

“The accused were detained soon after the allegation was made. Their responses during questioning were unsatisfactory, and they were subsequently booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita,” Kaushal said. He added that a medical examination of the complainant has been completed, and further action will be taken based on the report.

The alleged assault has triggered strong political reactions across the spectrum. Union minister and NDA ally Chirag Paswan condemned the incident, calling it "deplorable." Speaking to reporters in Patna before leaving for a rally in Gaya, Paswan said, “The guilty may have been caught, but the administration has clearly failed to prevent such crimes. The situation is scary. I regret supporting a regime that cannot maintain law and order.”

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also reacted sharply, posting a news clipping of the incident on social media platform X with the hashtag: “Nitish sarkar hatao, beti bachao” (vote out the Nitish Kumar government to protect daughters). He alleged that Bihar was under a “rakshas raj” (rule of demons) and criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his two deputies for their "criminal silence" on such incidents.

State Congress president Rajesh Kumar echoed the concerns, stating, “This incident reflects the complete collapse of law and order in Bihar. Given the ruling dispensation’s behaviour in the recently held Assembly session, this comes as no surprise. Our party stands with the victim and will fight to ensure she gets justice.”